An aspirant's several years search for Allah, made possible by His grace/mercy ,and not through any efforts of the seeker

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

95. Mysticism. Part three

Please read blog 93 and 94 for continuity

d). those persons who have a moral compass in them, do not need
an external prop of religion to tell them how to be good, they know it
intrinsically. In a survey of least corrupt countries in the world,
Scandinavian countries were on the top. Another survey found Scandinavian
countries to be least religious; almost 20% did not even believe in God.

e) one to
one session with God gives bliss, and bliss helps in becoming good. I quote
from blog 83:

“. Meditation by Kriya Yoga gives
such bliss that one likes to do more of it. More of spiritual bliss leads to
less of evil passions. Base side of human nature gradually comes under one’s
control. In simple words one becomes good. Therefore, Lahiri Mahasaya said,
that without such a course, mere moral teachings are ineffective”.

Bliss is lacking in ritualistic practices because there is no
intimate talk with God

The two great advantages of spiritual meditation are bliss and
guidance

6. How does the process work? I do not know enough. Here are some
preliminary conclusions. There are four main factors; God’s light, receiver in
the seeker, intervening space between the light (or vibrations) and the
receiver, and the exposure time. Let me explain:

a) God’s
light. This mysterious force works on a person, through the receiver. We do not
know enough. Is it everywhere, all the time, like radio waves? Does it vary in
intensity, in other words some persons receive more than others? Some have said
that it is ubiquitous, but it is absorbed only when there is a receiver.
Whereas others have said that one has to come in God’s notice. There are
perhaps millions of inhabited planets with many having intelligent life.
Therefore God cannot possible be aware of one, personally.One has this difficult task of attracting
God’s attention. For instance this mote, at the time of writing these words,
has approximately 25 thousand billion red blood cells (RBC) circulating. Each
is performing the vital role of carrying oxygen. Each one lives 120 days.
Therefore each day many billion RBC are born and an equal amount die. Am I
aware of any one of them? Perhaps similar situation exists between man and God.

b) Receiver.
As I have already mentioned people may or may not have a receiver, and the
receiver may be strong or ordinary. Receiver can be made more sensitive. For
instance fasting, tears, devotion, prayers,yearning for God, chanting, can make
the receiver more sensitive. With prolonged, years of practice, receiver
becomes more sensitive.

c). There
should be nothing to obstruct the light. Wandering thoughts are the greatest
obstruction. They don’t let one focus on God. Worries, anger, jealousy, fear,
temptations of sex, wealth, and power, ruin the meditation. They act like clouds
obstructing sunlight. They are one of the main challenges to a seeker. For the
light of God to reflect in the clear water of a cup with muddy water, the mud
has to settle. Thoughts are constantly churning the water and don’t allow the
mud to settle.

d) Exposure
time. After the strength of receptor, this is the most important factor
determining success. Strength of receptor is not in one’s control, but the
exposure time is in one’s control. What is meant by exposure time? It is the
total time spent in meditation (or one to one session with God); the hours each
day, the days in a year, the years in one’s life.

It is my unshakable conviction that those who quit the world ( tiag ) for sake of God and only God,
never fail in this path. That is why all great mystics forsake the world, at
least, for some time. That is why they went to caves and jungles for meditation.
That is why they tried not to marry, so that they would’t have the distraction of
family. All this to have more time for meditation. They tried to think of God at
night. In order to sleep less, they ate less.

That explains the reason why householders, such as myself, take such a long time
for meager success.

That also explains why Swami Ram Das achieved such heights in
mere one year( blog 82-5) and Mr Shevani( blog 67,72) in eleven months (
despite the fact that Mr Shevani was in his fifties or sixties ).

In these
blog I have mentioned many mystics. Here is a list. Many of them, came back to
the world, after God-realization, to help humanity.

All of them,
except, Shahab, and Nancy Mayorga, to pursue the path of God-realization, quit the
world.

I do not mean to imply that to realize
God quitting the world is obligatory. It is not. But if one does not quit the world,
two things are going to happen; it will take much longer to realize God, and one
may not realize God at all, because there was not enough time left in his life.
One thing is also certain to happen, he will make some progress and have some gains
(like this mote ). God will not let him go empty handed. I quote from my own poem,
blog 61 (the riddle);

4. Mysticism is
different from religion. In this mote’s opinion mysticism (spirituality) is far
superior to religion. However it is limited to very very few. Why is it
practiced only by very few is because it is extremely difficult to practice, it
is a very long process (often lifelong), there is no worldly reward at the end,
it is very difficult to practice without a competent teacher and teachers are
rare, and one has to have a spiritual receiver to begin with. Therefore one
need not worry that if everybody starts meditating how the world will function.
I am simply amazed that how Mr. Shahab considered it inferior to shariat . The bliss of God’s touch on
one’s face is ineffable. Words cannot describe it. One touch is greater than
thousand ritualistic prostrations. All great saints, like St Teresa of Avilla,
and Sri Ramakrishna have said the same thing.

One critical difference between religion and spirituality is
that religion is a collective formula, whereas mysticism is an individual
effort. Religion provides a set of laws, a code of conduct, for a group of
persons ( may be in millions or billions ). It tells them how to lead their
life and how to build their society based on those set of laws. Mysticism does
no such thing. Its aim is only God; to reach God, to be near God, to realize
God. Mystics neither care for themselves or society, although their heart does
melt at the suffering of others. Indra Devi said it beautifully, I quote from
blog 88:

“
Her love for her Beloved is the reality of her life. It is like air to her.
Whether or where she shall arrive is not very important because all she needs
is to love Him and seek Him. There is no urge to become anything at journey’s
end. Her prayer is to give herself completely to Him. It is not her aim to help
or better the world. Everything which comes from God is a blessing: joy or
pain, love or rejection. “Only reveal to me Your will and the way to do
it……………………………………………………………………….good or bad, whatever I am, belongs to
You………………………………………that You draw me closer to You is all I ask”

Mystics
indulge in their practices not for any material benefit, but because an inner
force compels them to do it. They are helpless against this superior force. They
do it for God. Most of the times they derive joy from them ( although dry
periods come frequently )

5. Does religion make a person spiritual. I don’t know the
definite answer, but I have the following observation to make

a) There is
no evidence that, at least since Renaissance, societies based on religion, have
been superior to secular societies.

b) There is
no evidence that the set of laws pronounced by various religions are better
than the secular laws. In fact there are glaring deficiencies in religious
laws. There is no mention of Universal Human Rights ( freedom of thought, freedom of expression,freedom of assembly, and others ) , the Rights of animals,
etc. Slavery was not abolished, outright.

c) I had
previously outlined three standard paths ( see blog 26 ). Since then I have
learnt of a fourth path; the path of religion. Deeply religious persons may too
have a receiver in them. Devotional practices then lead to love of God, which
may make them a mystic. Therefore, religious tenets should not be criticized.
They serve a good and noble purpose. They attempt to kindle love for God, and
be nice to other human beings.

What is missing in religious practices performed by billions ? There is no one to one session with God.For power of God to work, one has to let
it work. One has to invite it, give it time, and stop worldly thoughts. This
mote had the opportunity to watch a very religious couple for some months. They
performed their five daily prayers, and even an optional 6th prayer
(namaz ). But they performed their namaz in public (often children running
around, TV going) and hurriedly (because of the pressure of worldly
activities). I once advised them to perform their prayers in private, that way
they will get more benefit. Their reply was that namaz was an obligation. They had to do it as efficiently as
possible. And yes, they were bothered by wandering of thoughts, but it could
not be helped. That couple did not change their habit.

Monday, June 10, 2013

93. Mysticism. part one

I feel that I should tell what I have so for learnt about
mysticism, in the final blog of this book, after travelling on this toad for
thirteen and a half years. It has to be an interim report, subject to revision.
I have not crossed any important landmark, as outlined by other accomplished
seekers, and I have not travelled long enough. Great Qalander told my brother
that he came in that area fifty-fifty-five years ago. But still I have made
some gains, which entitles me to say something. I will write more about my struggle
in Foreword. Here I want to talk not about myself but about the subject matter.

I have arrived at some conclusions;

1. Nobody travels
on the road to God-realization (or spirituality, or mysticism, or Sufism or tareekat, or real Yoga for God-union)
without God’s prior approval. In other words everybody is pre-selected. In blog
8, my categorization was wrong. Still there are 2 groups, so the grouping in
blog 8 is correct. But the grouping should be based on age; those who are pious
in youth and even childhood, and those who come later in life.

Jesus Christ said “many
are called, few are chosen”

Who is called? Those who have a receiver in their soul. Just
as a radio or a television set has a receiver which catches the waves in the
atmosphere, some people have a receiver but vast majority does not.

The call comes many times in such person’s life, but it
bears fruit only when the soul is ready, otherwise, person just ignores it...
It may bear fruit in childhood, or in middle age or even in old age. Therefore
the classification should be:

1) People
with very powerful receiver. Born yogis and fakirs, such as almost all the
mystics that I have written in my two books with the possible exception of Mr.
Shevani.

2) People
with ordinary receiver. These people often turn to this path in their fifties
or there about, when passions cool off.

3) People
with no receiver. Rest of humanity

I have written in great detail about this early process, and
subsequent stages in blog, 8, 25, 33-38, therefore there is no need of
repeating it.

2. Those who are
content with their life will not go on this path. This includes the ordinary
religious, devoutly religious, secular humanist, and ordinary worldly people.
Only people who are discontent and unhappy with their inner life turn to
mysticism. Those who have hunger in their soul, restlessness in their heart,
void in their beings, look and search for something more.

Take the example of devoutly religious. One may think that
since they follow religious tenets so much they would have great love for God,
and thus more prone to mysticism, sine mysticism aims at closeness to God.
Religious tenets are nothing but duties to God and fellow human beings

You will be farthest from truth. Often the devoutly
religious are so extreme in their views and so narrow minded that it borders
upon fanaticism. First they are completely sure that their religion is the
best, so what is the need to go to second best. Secondly, they are completely
certain that the instructions given in their religion are comprehensive, why to
add something more such as meditation, which is anyway a Hindu concept.
Thirdly, they have heard that the practice of mysticism requires isolation from
society, chastity, etc, which are often forbidden not only in their religion,
but are against common sense. If every body starts sitting isolated in caves
and houses, how can the society function? Who will earn the living? How will
procreation proceed ?

As for
others, they don’t particularly care about God. As my two friends ( one
religious and the other atheist ) remarked “ I am not particularly keen to meet
God any earlier than I have to” and the religious one added “ I don’t want to
think of Him now, I will be with Him, after death, for whole of eternity”

3. What is the
purpose of mysticism?In the opinion of
this mote there are several purposes:

A). To
prove that there is a God. Read blog 92 again, Paul Brunton who initially was a
disbeliever became a believer. People who watch these mystics closely, get
convinced that there is God. They sometimes see supernatural events from them.
Furthermore, these sages never tell a lie, therefore if these sages say that
there is God, and they have personally seen or felt God, then there must be
God. Sri Ramakrishna used to tell a story of a little boy who had never seen
his father, but loved him dearly. When asked why does he love his father when
he had never even seen him. The little boy replied “ but my mother has seen him
“

b)To have direct access to God or His
representatives, for those who want it. The fire of God brought originally by
prophets becomes dim after passage of time. Rituals replace the message.
Adaptability, a requirement for any system to remain efficient over time (
telephone, radio, cars, airplanes, etc; to name a few ) is prohibited.

This system allows direct access to the Source, the God.
These sages bring the fire again and again to humanity, though not on such a
large scale as prophets.

Great Qalander said as much to my brother “ such people are
present in all religions, in all areas, and in all times”

These mystics do not bring any new knowledge. They do not
bring new guidelines or formulas. There message is the same: Be good to others,
love God with all your power, conquer your desires, know your Self

c)These mystics spread the message, they have
personally learnt, by daily talk to the visitors, through books, through
disciples

d) They
have a healing power emanating from their body, which spreads peace and
tranquility around them ( Brunton noted it from Maharishee ). In old times,
when medicines were not readily available, these sages taught spiritual
practices for common maladies such as headache, backache, scorpion bite, snake
bite, etc.

e) The
great adepts have all proclaimed, that once one has realized Self, it becomes
an infallible guide to one’s problems. When Brother Lawrence was entrusted to
buy wine for the monastery, he was not fearful at all. He told God (Self ) “it
is Your problem”